It was interesting to see the gap in the rebounding numbers closed as we were making our run late in the second half.
Rebound is so important in controlling a game.





GO BOBCATS

Again I will encourage certain emotional personalities to not post during games. The whackos giving up in the stands at least only have the people around them to shame them. You're doing it on a message board imprinted for all to see for eternity, looking like a fool.

Felt like the opposite of a lot of our losses this year. Kent was controlling the game and then just crumbled in the last 8 mins. Kent was 12 for 39 from 2. That is...not good.

During the frustration it felt like we were getting killed on rebounding and turnovers but in the end those were both pretty even. We won this won at the free throw line. We took 15 less shots but were 21 for 24 from the line, +12 on made FTs.

Jaylin had an absolutely terrible game for the first 30. Lots of ugly turnovers and couldn't hit anything. Glad he was able to make some big plays at the end and we were able to overcome his off night.

Sheldon's very deep 3 flipped the game big time. It was huge. And then defensively the block on a breakaway was a big boost and a really good play when being outsized. Loving this guy more and more. I don't want to call for less minutes for Reef/Miles but would love to find a way for some more clock for Ajay. Very comfortable with the ball in his hands.

3 things I have complained before were especially bad this game...

1 - Boals was super whiney all game with the refs and got himself yet another tech. And just like the one at Toledo, it was obvious the refs got the call right. Glad the 2 points we gave them didn't cost us the game this time.
2 - Clayton 0 two point attempts. Sigh. He had at least 2 moments where he was right there and should have went up but elected to pass out. Someone tell him he can do it.
3 - Aidan Hadaway has to stop shooting threes. We've got plenty of other guys that can do that.

Overall not the most exciting win but happy to have survived. Really need to sink that makeable birdie at NIU.

Thanks to the Brazilians for our annual reminder of what a fun and loose culture looks like.

Ugly game; but way to battle and pull off the sweep. I echo some of Ruck's thoughts.

I'd love to see Sheldon get more minutes and maybe even break up the Jaylin/Miles/Shereef trio. Especially, since he's our only consistent 3PT threat on team that's more trigger happy than it should be from deep.

On the subject matter of 3's, there's really cool website called CBB analytics that displays shot charts. This team is absolutely horrific at corner 3PA's outside of Sheldon. Whose hit 44% of his 3PA's from that territory. The next player down is AJC at 30%. Everyone else should just stop entirely.

Meanwhile, Sheldon is hitting 57% (28/49) on above the break 3's, Miles 50% (17/34), Ike 44% (11/25), and Clayton 43% (45/106). The next best is 32% and goes lower from there. I get not wanting to discourage 3PA's for others, but our offensive efficiency could be drastically improved just by shot selection and who is shooting from where. The data is there to deploy.

Speaking of Ike, is he still sick? Outside of getting bodied by Payton on the defensive side, he chipped in 5 points in 5 minutes. He still struggles defensively, but he's quietly gone 8/8 on FT's and 67% on 3PA's, and a true shooting % of 82% over the last 5 games. I feel like that should earn some more consistent PT.

Hopefully, Jaylin can be that guy when we get to Cleveland. Elmore still doesn't look the same.

Ike had 5 points in 5 minutes last night. Would love to see him just get up and down a little bit. In games where he has played 15+ minutes he's averaging 9 points in 17.5 minutes.

When he is on the floor early and has enough time to get into the flow of the offense, he's getting shots. Without AJB, and now Elmore banged up, we really are lacking additional options to score in bunches.

No way we'd be a 16. The SWAC and MEAC champions have a front row seat in the play-in games as it is. From there, you're looking at schools like North Dakota, Merrimack, etc who are below us in the NET by a chunk. And after the grind of this season and the personnel issues, getting into the tournament would be a monumental accomplishment. I'd get over getting blown out by Tennessee or Duke pretty quick.

Agree on the Sheldon triple. It felt as though we were in control from that point on even though we were still down. Another huge sequence was Chris Payton fouling on an offensive rebound. It was the Kent's tenth foul of the second half and Hadaway made both free throws. I thought that was a very soft call, as was the foul on Hunter's and-1 jumper. Then on the next defensive position, Sheldon flattens one of Kent's guards on the rebound. No call. We for sure benefitted from a friendly whistle.

Best part about this win is we've unlocked the chance for someone to opine that it's difficult to beat the same team 3 times in a season. I personally look forward to it.

Had to listen to this one on the radio. Was subject to probably the stupidist statement ever made by a play-by-play announcer, and agreed to be his sidekick/straight man. The statement was that Boals gets more technical fouls because he's tall and, therefore, more visible to the refs!

That being said, great game for the Bobcats.

What about the ESPN+ announcer stating on more than one occasion that Ohio has the best backcourt in the MAC. I believe he was quoting Sendy but mentioned it himself without citing Sendy a couple more times. Wouldn't UT have something to say about this?

it would be similair to the Nba all star game. either of those teams would be making plays like that against us all game long-

 

It was tough, it was physical, it was a hard earned @MACSports win. Listen back to how @RussEisenstein & @robcwv called the 63-57 victory over @KentStMBB on @OhioSP from @Learfield with the @parmarstores rewind.🎙️ pic.twitter.com/GLa3iBTBXQ

— Ohio Men’s Basketball (@OhioMBasketball) February 22, 2024

Marty...I agree. There isn't anything wrong with your comment. We are guard heavy and we do have one of the best backcourts in the MAC...if not the best. Especially when Hunter, Reef and Brown are clicking...and now throw in a thriving Sheldon...that's pretty damn good. I'm not surprised Senderoff feels the same way.

And since we have you here, I want to ask you about Ezuma. You cover the team as a play-by-play announcer and radio host. Can you shed any light on why he hasn't played this year and why he's now not even on the bench? Is Ezuma a current member of this basketball team? Surely, you can see the fanbase frustration over this situation when this guy was supposed to contribute this season and provide much needed depth down low. As a play-by-play announcer for the team, isn’t this something you would want to know as well and pertinent info to share with your audience? Why is there so much secrecy to this? It makes no sense. A guy on full-scholarship hasn't dressed for 59 straight games. You would think those who cover this program on a regular basis like yourself are allowed to share if the guy is at least still a member of this team. Thanks

I'd like to see Hadaway ditch the 3's and start driving to the hole. I know he can knock them down but we have had other shooters step up since the start of the season and don't need him taking those as much. He's very athletic and can get to the rim and draw fouls. That would help this team more than him shooting 1-3 from deep.

I don't think Hadaway should stop. It's not like he's taking 10 a game. He takes a couple a game. If he hits a couple, he'll probably take a few more. I think it's going to be a focus in the offseason to get his percentage up. If he's a greater weapon outside the arc, it will create opportunities to drive with the ball and cut without it, which plays to his strength. I'm bullish on his future as a major offensive weapon. i think we've only seen flashes so far.